This is one of many True Story interviews in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting, amazing, challenging things. This is the story of Sophia and her work as an online dominatrix. I realize this is a job that many readers might take issue with. Please keep your comments respectful and productive. We all know how to disagree without being a-holes, riiiiight?

Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am originally from London. and for fun I enjoy travel, photography, burlesque, shopping, and clubbing. I very, very much like to travel and frequently do so for extended periods of time, as much as a year or more on some journeys! I recently spent over a year traveling throughout India, Thailand and Malaysia. It was magnificent.

How did you end up in this line of work?
I got into it through a photographer I had worked with and who I began dating. He had a bit of an interesting fantasy life – he fantasized about being hypnotized and controlled and dominated by women. He very much projected these fantasies onto me, and as a performer and model already, as well as an outgoing and ambitious woman, it was an easy role for me to fall into.

This worked out particularly well for him, because as he revealed to me, he had been chatting online with various women and engaging in different sorts of sexual activities with them (from simple chatting to Skype calls) all of which eventually involved him paying the women money in exchange for them satisfying his hypnosis or submission fantasies.

My photographer boyfriend realized that since other women were doing this online dominatrix thing, that I (or really we) could do it as well.

So he set up a website, a blog, a Youtube account, a Paypal account, basically an entire linked-up network whereby clients could be attracted
in and provided with a product, for which they would pay us, generally via Paypal or Amazon gift card.

What sorts of services do you offer? And how much do you charge?

Forgive me for what will surely sound like outrageous arrogance, but I am considered an extremely attractive woman and using photographs and videos of myself it was easy to attract attention online.

For example, If you post a video to Youtube and you tag it with “erotic hypnosis” or “domination” men who are searching WILL find your video. That’s consistent across the internet – if you put something out there that someone is looking for, eventually they WILL find it.Having my blog and Youtube account and all that linked together allowed men seeking online domination to see photographs and videos of me and I started to get emails and chat requests immediately from men who wanted to “serve” and “follow” me and be my “slave.”

I would simply tell them if they wanted to serve me, they had to pay me money or send me gifts. My Paypal information was always readily
displayed I kept an Amazon wish list from which men could buy me gifts.

I would generally chat for a little while with a man, using Yahoo Messenger, and after a while I would demand he “make an offering” to me or he wouldn’t get to spend any more time online with me or see more photographs or videos of me. About 50% of the men dropped off without making a payment, but the other 50% would make a payment, the majority using the Amazon wish list to give me gift cards in various amounts, but many using Paypal as well.

I never asked for specific amounts of money or gifts, other than once for a new digital camera which I did receive from several men who went in on it as a group gift, if you can imagine it!

I always told the men to use their best judgement about how much to give, and I have received as little as $10 and as much as $1000 in single “offerings.” A realistic yearly total would be about $30,000. Not exactly getting rich, but not bad considering it’s not my sole source of income.

I have never met any of the men in person, I have never shown ANY nude photographs or videos of me, really, I’ve scarcely done anything at all. The key is, the LESS you do, the MORE the men like it. They enjoy being all but ignored and being treated poorly, and they revel in the chance to impress a woman, even an anonymous online woman, by buying her gifts.

I generally don’t even have to verbally abuse them in stereotypical dominatrix fashion, I’ve found that just by acting like I’m too good for them and far above them socially and so on that they are eager to prove me wrong, usually by giving me presents.

I’ve found that in this business, less truly is more. Because I tell them so little, show them so little, and interact with them so little, they’re forced to fill in the blanks about me with their own minds. So, of course, they use their imaginations to paint my picture the way they most want it to look, which plays right into my hands.

It’s devious I know, but there it is.

What are your clients like?Most are white men, 25-55. They have strong sexual fantasies about being hypnotized or controlled by women. They are probably not socially doing all that great and want to impress women through gifts. Some want to dress up in Little Bo Peep costumes and the like; some are just lonely men who want the attention of a beautiful woman.

Most are totally clueless about anonymity and make little or no attempt to hide their real identities. Some actually converse with me via their work email addresses, which is insane if you ask me.

Are the people in your life aware of your work?For the most part the people in my life are not aware of my work, they would NOT approve.

Has your work affected your personal life at all?It’s a very personal thing, this. This whole thing grew out of my boyfriend’s sexual fantasies and it has made me extremely conscious of the power that women have over men, including lovers, friends and even family.

It’s also made me think a lot about what constitutes cruelty to another person, and about whether or not you should do something injurious to someone, even if they beg you to. It’s not like I’m literally lashing men with a whip, but taking their money can be just as painful and that’s something that needs to be considered.

It’s all very complicated, far more than I can really do justice to here. But you get the idea!

Any (respectful!) questions for Sophia?

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63 Comments

Wow, this is a very similar story to mine. Ive been an online "FinDomme" – which is the name for a Financial Dominatrix since 2006. Ive since branched out into real time domination but I would like to point out that there is still a lot of information about this fetish left out of this interview.

People need to understand that FinDom is a FETISH. Men become aroused at spending money on attractive dominant women. They are either aroused by the act of spending money or by the humiliation felt by being so easily manipulated into having their money taken.

It is more often than not CONSENSUAL. However, I get asked to blackmail men ALL.THE.TIME. Which is something that I do NOT do because of ethics and legalities and honestly, its too much work and doesnt sit well with me. Im not out to destroy anyones lives but I do enjoy being spoiled with gifts and money.

the other thing to note is that interviews like these make many, many girls think its easy and in the past 6 or 7 years I have seen literally thousands of girls jumping on the Findom train looking for a quick buck which has in turn spoiled the scene both for the REAL FinDommes and the real financial slavery fetishists. There are so many fakes out there trying to get money for nothing its ridiculous.

Also, Paypal do not condone adult transactions and WILL shut down your account and keep whatever money is in there for 90 days.

I have seen some extremely successful FinDommes in my day, who make hundreds of thousands a year seducing money out of weak men who love to be seduced, humiliated and extorted. Yes, these men love it and there wouldnt be a market for it if it wasnt so.

Same as strip clubs, they wouldnt exist if men werent willing to pay for a bit of attention.

There is a deep psychology behind these kinds of businesses. At the end of the day, men will pay for female attention in whatever form and thats why I can never understand why some women give so much away for free…

Anyway, there is a difference between an online dominatrix and an online financial dominatrix. Financial Domination is a very specified niche fetish and is not for everyone, wether Domme or male.

I dont see anything wrong with this,actually it is helping people to be relieved from their type of agony,or pain,we go to drs.every day to get a relief of another type of pain, & believe it or not!!we areadily & eager to pay!!!! To feel Better!! I would love to get involved with this type of Service..

I would be interested to know how Sophia protects herself online. I imagine that there are some people out there who would not take kindly to what Sophia does and I would like to hear how she maintains her offline anonymity, or if any of her clients have tried to take things too far.

I found this a really interesting read. I can understand why Sophia would want to keep her online identity secret from her family and friends, but wonder if she is ever scared they will somehow stumble upon an image or video of her? I guess my question is quite similar to Claudia's, but I'm intrigued how this does or doesn't bleed out into her 'everyday' life.

I did this for a while and never really had any issues except one guy who found my twitter account, but he didn’t really bother me it just freaked me out that somebody when’re searching for me. He was polite and just wanted to be my friend after I quit going on cam.

Wow, i had never even heard of this before! Shows how innocent i am i guess haha 😛 I honestly can't believe that men would actually do this! It seems sort of ridiculous to spend so much money on someone you have never met!

Hello, hope I am not hijacking my own interview! I should say in my own defense, most of the boys I work with and who pay me are VERY satisfied customers. So while things may seem a bit devious, I do provide a service that makes my clients happy and keeps them coming back for more. Regarding safety, I am very careful about what clients I take on and am diligent about maintaining privacy and the secrecy of my personal information. Protecting oneself online requires a fair amount of effort, but it's effective if done properly. And since most of my clients need to maintain their own privacy, there is generally mutual discretion involved and that helps keep problems to a minimum. I have not had many instances of this bleeding into my “real life,” although I must confess I do have a few boys I work with in person. Again, I am careful to maintain my privacy as much as I can, and they seem extremely satisfied so I am not too worried about it. If my family were ever to truly discover what I do, it would not be viewed favorably, but we would weather the storm. I am happy to answer more questions if anyone is interested, my contact information is available through the my blog, which is linked to above. Thanks!

I have been an online findomme since 2005. It has been my sole source of income for the most part. Sometimes I do some porn shoots, and some extreme fetish shoots. I have branched out last year and started doing real time domination sessions as well. I show my face but I wear a wig. I love what I do. I also have 1 live in "Slave" as they are called. and looking for 2 more. 😉

Hello, First off I'm new to this lifestyle. Would it be ok to request a gift list via e-mail to a dominatrix that you had a session with and plan to see again. Or is it better to go out and purchase something you think she might like. And the final scenario is to wait and ask her in person for a list of her wants/desires? I just want to show some appreciation above and beyond the required tribute (She is amazing)!

oh.. we are out there waiting. i have served various ladies over the years. There are some odd people in the fin domme world, but enough genuine ones too if you look. Its nothing new, howvever, it has been around for over ten years certainly.

To add a new and possibly bizarre dimension to this topic, i have had a similar setup online for over a year now, with a twist, i'm not female.Its a transvestite fin-dom website, hugely fetish orientated and very popular with european and asian males; some gay, some straight (ironically like myself, i'm happily married and my wife is the techno guru behind the website).Its very profitable, amusing, truly vulgar at times and if i'm brutally honest, i have no feelings of guilt, the paypigs (as i call them) love the experience of humiliation, chastity/tease and total domination and willingly pay for it. My advice to anyone entering this 'business' is to always look good (fortunes have been spent on rubberwear) and never let slip on attitude.I do hope i am not held in negative regard posting this but male fin-dom does exist and there is plenty of demand for it.

I have been a dome and fiscal queen professionally since the 90's. However, I have been this way my entire life. Both my mother and my grandmothers are also this way. It is in my blood. And I am awesome at what I do. Being gorgeous certainly does not hurt my situation. I have been flown all over the world and even though I do not need the money. (this is NOT my profession) I am wayyyy too driven and intelligent for that! I make more money just from the fiscal dominance than most do at their regular respective jobs. Not bad for a side gig eh? I actually cannot live without it. I crave it. Which is why I am so good at what I do.

This is really interesting. I was actually researching how to enter the business online which is how I came across your article. Any tips or directives for women who who wish to enter the businesses online?

this is all very interesting but how does this help me? I need physical contact have been down the internet road and it did nothing for me. I met some people online but nothing came out of it it was all the same chit chat. I did learn what not to say or do to a dominatrix. I have not had my needs met and cannot find anyone to train me or teach me the ropes

Fascinating how naive some people are, like asking for free advice, free attention. Don't think this is as easy as it sounds. It is a real challenge to pull off and requires a very strong-minded person to weild power over others. It's also much like being a sex therapist or a shrink. Anyone who doesn't have that confidence and will power may find it can be dangerous too.If there is no actual sex then it is not technically prostitution. But it is certainly a variation of the oldest profession. As for women using their erotic power to gain advantage over those who worship them -that's been around since the beginniong of time. It's one of the reasons that male-dominant societies have emerged, the vulnerability of the physically stronger but emotionally weaker male trying to protect itself from the power of the female. The interaction or switching up/down of power between people, including erotic power, is an essential part of human interaction. If someone willingly gives another person money, it is technically a gift. The fact that it feels like a kind of extortion is part of the fantasy, or play.Many men (and women) who long to be dominated, are in fact very successful, sometimes wealthy, often over-confident in their normal lives, which is why the lure of engaging their inner dark side is perhaps so compelling. Role reversal. Powerful people often have inner secret weaknesses and vulnerabilities that they long to grapple with.How do I know anything about this? Lol… guess.

Truth! But its just as True that there are many Fakes out there, that have nothing to do with BDSM and Dominance and stuff like that.
I Dont like this so-called Financial Domme Queen title because it can be well MISTAKEN with the GOLDDIGGER and personally. I Would be offended to be Mistaken with that.
Unforcinately with this Online thing, and Online Domination Translated-thing… I Think the Lines between Real and Fake Female Dommes are very Blurry, and unforcinately many get the Wrong Idea and ruin the image of this field..

I think its only Natural for one who has this Inclinations, to also Promote himself/ herself Online if they wish but in the same time. There are LOADS LOADS of Hungry Chicks who state they are ~Dommes~ but have no Idea about how this field is, and how to Behave just say. Give me Money cause more NEW They can pretend they are Financial Dominatrix loool XD Stupid, if U ask me.

Hello I do not know what to call you as Mistress is to intimate since I am not collared by you.
Anyway my question is this why would a man have a desire to serve and why would he have a desire to have a beautiful woman kidnap him and make him her sub not just for sex?

Im looking for Dominatrix who wants a live in submissive slave who will take my paycheck and train me to her wants and needs.If she feels like leaveing me restrained till she wants my services thats ok.I just want to worship her in every way.will you help me or tell me how to find a Lady locally pretty please.

It is true that financial domination is very misunderstood. All too often it’s labelled as the men being abused and the women being lazy good for nothings. Those people are the ones that will never see the allure and the excitement had by both parties. Every FinDom relationship is unique – those that think there is a standard recipe will fail. I have experienced couples coming to worship me as their God and lay monthly tithes and deliver gifts at Sunday worship, the traditionalists who like to spoil me because I tell them to, the men who love to meet on their payday at a cash point so I can use them as my human ATM, those who long to feel a loss of control through consensual blackmail and the men who really know they are poor with money and want me to take care of everything for them. Some like contact every day and others just want contact to release their money be it on email, text, phone or on the odd occasion a pricey shopping spree. Perhaps they like to be cuckolded, taxed for their penis size, sissified and emasculated or simply referred to as slave and pay pig. Whatever it is though, it is a relationship between Dominatrix and Sub and it is one the men actively seek out and the Mistress actively nurtures. If she is good then she will become their Goddess and they will not look elsewhere. But it takes time and hard work. A fin domme uses the art of her words as well as her looks to get what she deserves. After all, why shouldn’t a man kneel to perfection? This is no more abuse than a man that has another fetish – perhaps to be spanked or restrained. Nobody would question that – it is simply ‘different’ but from my perspective an awful lot more fun. I have been a Mistress for 6 years and have met the most well rounded and highly educated slaves through my financial domination site. If he knows what he wants, Mistress Shonie can certainly cater for it, for the right price of course! And there is always room for another pay pig in the pen, as long as he remembers his place.

I have been a Dome for many years. I also have met some very well rounded and exciting people over the years. Just lately am I starting online. And tributes can b anything. In all forms and yes am looking both for new pay pigs and a new live in. I enjoyed reading all comets on here. Remember if u enjoy it why not profit from it

Hello i’ve recently started a sex phone line but i want to move into being a dominatrix but i’m not firm enough with what i tell my clients, does anyone have any helpful phone domination scripts for femdoms – this can be an example of a conversation done over the phone